Holy Trinity Church in Ashford

A general view of Holy Trinity church from the north-west

During my trip to Ashford-in-the Water, although I only had time to quickly walk around the village, I encountered many Iisted buildings, various walls and other structures that exhibit the building materials typically found in the White Peak – Carboniferous limestone walling and Millstone Grit dressings, with flaggy varieties of the latter being used for roofing. 

Limestone and gritstone used in the tower

Approaching Holy Trinity church from the north-west, having previously walked down Vicarage Lane, the tower obviously looked like it was mediaeval – from the C13 according to Pevsner – and when close enough to see the details of the individual blocks of stones, I noted that the walling stone essentially comprises thinly bedded pale grey/light brown limestone, with some chert, and that the C14 parapet is built with gritstone. 

An extension built in limestone and gritstone

This church was largely rebuilt 1868-70 and, quickly walking around its exterior, I didn’t find anything of particular architectural interest apart from a recent offshoot extension to the north aisle, which made me curious to know where the limestone and gritstone came from –  as a stone matching expert - and the remains of a preaching cross, which reminded me of the one that I had seen the month previously at St. Peter’s church in Edensor. 

A view of Holy Trinity church from the south-west

The south elevation is obscured by two large yew trees – considered to be more than 500 years old - and having walked along Church Street to get a view of the church from the south-west, I discovered the Cornish granite memorial to the Great War. 

A memorial plaque dedicated to WW2

Next to this is a memorial to the Marquess of Hartington – the heir apparent to the Duchy of Devonshire – and others who perished in WWII, which appears to be made of Hopton Wood stone. Here, there is also a castellated chimney that was removed from the vestry roof and is now used as a 2000 millennium time capsule. 

A castellated chimney now used as a time capsule

Entering the porch, a Norman tympanum above the door depicts the tree of life with a hog and a lion set either side of it and, once inside the church, I discovered a single north arcade with very simple capitals, dated to the C14, and a font in the Perpendicular Gothic style but – with the walls being completely plastered – there wasn’t much masonry to catch my eye.

The tympanum above the south door